Bob's keeping spirits up

Christmas-CRAZY Bob Stansbury is inflating spirits in a Woodley street with his display of blow-up festive characters.

Mr Stansbury hopes to raise money for the Sudan Appeal, Cancer Research and the Woodley Saints under-sevens football team with the show in Buckden Close.

His son Sam, seven and friend Ella Willoughby, four, love it too.

A CHRISTMAS-mad dad and his seven-year-old son are inflating spirits in a Woodley street with their blow-up seasonal spectacular.

Engineer Bob Stansbury, 49, has transformed the front of his home in Buckden Close into a winter wonderland filled with no fewer than 26 large, glow-in-the-dark inflatable snowmen, reindeers, and Santas.

His annual extravaganza is already well-known to people in his neighbourhood - but this year's efforts have surpassed anything he's done before.

"Last year we had six or seven, but this year we've just gone mad," Mr Stansbury told the Evening Post.

"I've had several neighbours and kids walking past asking if I was going to do it again this year, so we've gone all out."

Mr Stansbury said he had some help putting up the decorations - which cost between £45 and £100 each - from neighbours and from the display's biggest fan, his son Sam.

"I do it all for him really, and for the other kids round here," he said.

"It's become a family tradition.

"I've never had any problems from the neighbours - some people might say it's tacky, but people seem to like it.

"My house is very designer - but when they're all inflated you can't really see it from the front."

However he said the inside of his house, decorated by wife Julie, was a little more low-key.

"She just lets me get on with it outside," he said.

He is hoping the display - which he packs up at night and in high winds - will also help inflate the coffers of three charities this Christmas.

"I'm a manager of the Woodley Saints Under-sevens football team, so 10 per cent of the money is going to that," he explained.

"Forty five per cent is going to Cancer Research, and 45 per cent is going to the Sudan Appeal, so I hope people will come and help support them."